Centennial College’s Paramedic Program has taken a major step forward in EMS education with the unveiling of two new SimRig Classroom Ambulance Trainers, advanced ambulance simulation units designed to deliver hands-on paramedic training in a realistic clinical environment.
This cutting-edge equipment was introduced during a special event on Friday, January 23 at Centennial College’s Morningside Campus in Toronto, Ontario. Among the VIP attendees were Ron Kelusky, former Chief Prevention Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister, Susan Picarello, Assistant Deputy Minister, Emergency Health Services Branch at the Ministry of Health, and Councillor Neethan Shan of Scarborough–Rouge Park. The new simulation equipment provides career-ready training for students pursuing paramedic careers in Ontario’s emergency medical services (EMS) sector.
Why Simulation-Based Paramedic Training Matters
"Today is one of those moments, isn't it, when purpose, preparation and people come together in a very tangible way," said Dr. Craig Stephenson, President of Centennial College. "When we talk about emergency care and the professionals who deliver it, we are talking about real lives. We're talking about real pressure and real decisions made in real time."
The SimRig Classroom Ambulance Trainer is designed to replicate the interior of a frontline EMS vehicle in a controlled classroom setting, allowing students to train in conditions that closely mirror the field. The compact space shows students the physical constraints and pressures of working in tight spaces, while letting a class to participate in or observe simulations.
"Paramedicine is not learned at a distance," Dr. Stephenson said. "It is learned in tight spaces under stress, with responsibility, where judgment, teamwork, confidence and calmness matter just as much as the technical skill. That is exactly what this paramedic sim rig represents at its core."
Ontario’s Leading Paramedic Program
Centennial College is the first college in Canada to embed two of these SimRig trainers directly into its paramedic labs, which are home to Ontario’s largest public paramedic program, widely recognized for its rigorous, science-based curriculum and strong graduate outcomes.
"For nearly 20 years, our graduates have achieved a 100 per cent, let me just repeat that, 100 per cent pass rate on the Ministry of Health's certification exam," Dr. Stephenson confidently said.
Dr. Stephenson also highlighted the role of partnerships in making the initiative possible. "Thank you for all you do every day to nurture our student success and advance our program's reputation for excellence, because when public colleges and partners work together, we don't just train professionals, we build confidence capability and a more resilient future for everyone."
For Centennial College faculty, the SimRig represents both a teaching advancement and a way to showcase the program’s quality to employers across Ontario’s ambulance and emergency response agencies, who rely on Centennial graduates for paramedic skills and clinical preparedness.
"Centennial has enjoyed a very strong reputation in the field and among paramedic employers," said Michael Thomas, Professor and Program Coordinator, Specialist (Joint) in Paramedicine. "But today will hopefully provide a bit more of a glimpse into how we are training your future paramedics and employees, why we are confident that our graduates are exceptionally well prepared for the job, and why you should hire from Centennial."
With the addition of the SimRig Classroom Ambulance Trainers, Centennial College continues to strengthen its leadership in paramedic education, ensuring that graduates enter the workforce with real-world EMS experience, advanced ambulance simulation training and the confidence for high-pressure emergency medical situations.
By: Anthony Geremia